The DEYA Team
Director of Education
David Connolly
David is the Associate Artistic Director of Drayton Entertainment, Director of Education for their Youth Academy and Co-Chair of their EDI Committee. He is also an active Disability and Inclusion Advocate who is deeply committed to changing the statistic of being the only male amputee to have performed on Broadway.
As an Educator, David has been an Adjunct Professor and Advisor to the Musical Theatre Performance Programs at Sheridan College, Randolph College, St Lawrence College, VanderCook College and most recently, the Hopkins Centre for the Arts at Dartmouth College. While on the faculty at the famed Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Training Centre in New York, his students included Natalie Portman and Bryce Dallas Howard. He has also collaborated with artists including Katy Perry, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John, Sarah Jessica Parker, kd lang, Patti LaBelle, Sarah Brightman and many others.
For Drayton Entertainment, he has helmed over thirty-five productions including The Prom, Kinky Boots, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Mamma Mia! Newsies, Singing In The Rain and their beloved Pantos. David is a recipient of The Ontario Premier’s Award of Excellence and speaker for the DEI Committee of the International Musical Theatre Educators’ Alliance. For the past four years, David has curated and moderated a disability inclusion panel at BroadwayCon in New York City to help develop actionable steps to improve disabled representation onstage, and has proudly served as a peer assessor for The Canada Council for the Arts.
Administrative Director
Randi Perriam
Randi Perriam started with Drayton Entertainment in 2018 at the Huron Country Playhouse. Randi values the power of youth education in the arts and has been involved in the arts in some capacity since she was young. She remembers coming home from her local theatre in Goderich to make a witch’s wand with highlighters and tinfoil. She was hooked! The skills learned are invaluable and brought much confidence during case competitions and sales pitches in Business school. As much as Randi loves to crunch numbers and analyze data, she still chose to take a performance arts class in University. Randi can’t wait to meet everyone and support you in any way she can!
Fall Session Instructor
Christine Watson
Christine Watson is a performer, choreographer and dance educator from Kitchener Waterloo. Christine is extremely passionate about teaching and enjoys sharing her love of the arts, while being a mentor and inspiration to today’s youth. Select credits, Sleeping Beauty: The Panto, Grease, West Side Story, Rock of Ages, Joseph…, Mamma Mia, All Shook Up, Footloose, Spamalot, The Wizard of Oz, 9 To 5: The Musical (Drayton Entertainment); Rock of Ages (Fallsview); Spamalot (Theatre Aquarius); Dance Legends (The Grand); A Chorus Line (Rose Theatre). Choreography credits include, Assistant Choreographer for Kinky Boots, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Jack and the Beanstalk (Drayton Entertainment); Bye Bye Birdie, The Full Monty, The Sound of Music, RENT (KWMP). Christine is also the senior choreographer for the renowned youth pop choir, KW Glee.
Fall Session Instructor
Eric DaCosta
Eric has been touring the world for the last four years in Hanna Moscovitch’s award-winning show, Old Stock. Previous credits include: Annie, Honk!, Snow White: the Panto, Peter Pan: the Panto (Drayton Entertainment); Key Change (Globe Theatre Regina); and Hollywood Hits (Stage West Calgary).
Fall Session Instructor
Jackie Mustakas
Jackie began dancing at the age of three and started performing in musical theatre at the age of ten. She is an honours graduate of the Music Theatre Performance program at Sheridan College, and has been working professionally in the theatre business for 30 years. In 1998 she became a regular performer with Drayton Entertainment, and has continued to perform and choreograph for them until present. Selected theatre credits with Drayton are: Trish in Kinky Boots, Angie in The Prom, Donna and Tanya in Mamma Mia, Queen Diabolica in Snow White: The Panto, Mrs. Banks in Mary Poppins, Miss Hannigan in Annie, The Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz, Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, Polly Baker in Crazy For You, Shelby in Steel Magnolias, Lizzie in The Rainmaker, and Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street, just to name a few. Jackie has also been a dance instructor for several dance studios, as well as a guest drama teacher in schools across Ontario. She continues to perform and teach, and share her passion for the Arts.
Fall Session Instructor
Justin Bott
JUSTIN BOTT is an award-winning stage, voiceover and film/tv/commercial actor. He’s also a proud dad of two kiddos, a husband, an acting/voiceover coach and an amateur barista!
Recent credits include Cult Hero (Collingwood Film Co), Emerge (TLN Media), Wizard of Oz: The Panto and On Golden Pond (Drayton Entertainment)…and a few commercials. @justin.bott.a.mic @jeybott www.justinbott.com
Fall Session Instructor
Ryan Desaulnier
Ryan has enjoyed a 30-Year career as an Actor, Singer and Dancer across Canada, USA, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Ryan began his career in Ontario, then moved to Sydney, Australia, where he lived from 2000-2022. Selected credits include 8 productions at the Stratford Festival, including The Boyfriend, Camelot, and The Gondoliers; a variety of Feature and Short Films including Kids in the Hall, the Movie and Counterstrike; numerous TV Commercials appearing in the USA, Canada, Australia and China; and the Australian production of Man of La Mancha, alongside Anthony Warlow, Caroline O’Connor. Ryan also toured the world with The Wiggles for six years as a dancer and understudy to the Red Wiggle, appearing in their videos, performing in their live shows around the world, and providing backing vocals on over 20 CDs! Ryan has extensive experience sharing his passion for theatre with young people, teaching Dance, Drama and music, and has directed and choreographed a wide range of plays and musicals in Australian High Schools, including Annie, Beauty and the Beast, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Fidler on the Roof.
Fall Session Instructor
Stephanie Pitsiladis
Stephanie made her professional debut in the Mirvish production of Hairspray in 2004 where she was the first Canadian to perform the role of Tracy Turnblad. She has revisited the role across the country multiple times with the Charlottetown Festival, Drayton Entertainment, Rainbow Stage, and Mayfield Theatres.
Stephanie also founded and ran a successful semi-professional theatre program from 2007 – 2011 and coached the Laval Liberty Improv team which competed in the Canadian Improv Games.
Other credits include: Grease, Little Shop of Horrors, Man of La Mancha, Steel Magnolias, Snow White: The Panto, Aladdin: The Panto, The Gefilte Fish Chronicles, The Importance of Being Earnest, History of Rock and Roll: Stars and Stripes, Class of ’63: A Rockin’ Reunion, My Fair Lady, The Christmas Express and Kinky Boots.
Faculty
AJ Bridel
Drayton Entertainment (selected): Sophie in Mamma Mia!, Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan in Peter Pan: The Panto. Other Theatre (selected): Sherrie Christian in Rock of Ages (More Ent.), Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables (Charlottetown Festival), leading roles in several Ross Petty Pantos, Lauren in Kinky Boots (Mirvish). Film/TV: Odd Squad (TVO Kids), Murdoch Mysteries (CBC), Private Eyes (Global), Voice of Pipp Petals in My Little Pony (Netflix). AJ could not be happier to revisit Kinky Boots with this beautiful cast and crew! Big thanks to David, Alex and my whole Drayton family, Talent House and Bruce for the unwavering support. Insta and twitter: @ajbridel
Faculty
Andrea Macasaet
Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, is currently playing Mimi in the Stratford Festival Production of Rent. Previously, she originated the role of Anne Boleyn in SIX on Broadway after appearing in the same role at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, American Repertory Theatre, The Citadel Theatre and The Ordway Center of Performing Arts. Andrea is a graduate from The Canadian College of Performing Arts whose other credits include Canadian productions of Heathers: The Musical, Avenue Q, Miss Saigon and Prairie Nurse. On TV and Film, you may recognize her from Propose We Never See Each Other… (Bed Bugs film); Ratatouille: The Musical (BCEFA); and Guest Performer appearances on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The View, Late Night with Seth Meyers, Good Morning America, and the Today Show @andrea.cesyl.
Faculty
Ashley St. John
Drayton Entertainment: Mamma Mia!, Velma in West Side Story. Other Theatre: Playing Attention (Theatre Making Movement), Mamma Mia (Mayfield), Tillie Boulter/Gertie Pie in Anne of Green Gables, Kronborg: The Hamlet Rock Musical, Swing in Mamma Mia (Charlottetown Festival), Sillabub in Cats (Panasonic), Carpet in Beauty & the Beast (Neptune), Young Frankenstein (Stage West Calgary), La Traviata (COC), Specialty Dancer (Celebrity Cruise Entertainment). Film/TV: Schmigadoon Seasons 1 & 2 (Apple TV+), In the Tall Grass (Cooperheart), Rise (Shaftesbury). Love to my family, friends and partner Evan for their endless support! @abstjohn
Faculty
Barbara Assiginaak
Composer, musician and educator Barbara Assiginaak is Anishinaabekwe (Odawa, Ojibwe and Potawatomi; Mnidoo Mnissing, Giniw dodem) is rooted in the oral/aural traditions of singing, drumming and the pipigwan/bbigon (cedar flute) since early childhood, during which time she also began learning about plant medicines passed down through the women in her family. The child and grandchild of residential school survivors, Barbara is also the direct descendant of hereditary chiefs who fought in the Indian Wars and in the War of 1812 and who also signed major treaties in Ontario. Barbara is also classically trained in piano (ARCT diploma), with a Bachelor of Composition degree from the University of Toronto, followed by studies at the Glenn Gould School (Composition, Piano Performance, Accompaniment and Chamber Music), at the Musikhochschule in München, Germany (Meisterklassen Diplom in Komposition, Aufbaustudium) and Centre Acanthes (France). She is currently Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Composition at the Faculty of Music at Wilfrid Laurier University. She regularly performs her own songs and compositions with other musicians, and often as a soloist with leading orchestras and conductors.
Faculty
Blythe Wilson
Drayton Entertainment: Mamma Mia!, All Shook Up. Other Theatre: Mary Poppins (Broadway/US Tour), Sound of Music, Mamma Mia, Man of La Mancha (Mirvish), Billy Elliot, Guys and Dolls, Music Man, Oliver, Oklahoma (Stratford Festival), Home for the Holidays, A Christmas Carol (Grand Theatre), The Three Musketeers (Chicago Shakespeare), 25th Annual … Spelling Bee (Connecticut Rep), Mystery of Edwin Drood, She Loves Me, Happy End (Shaw Festival), The Last Five Years (Canadian Stage), Joseph … Dreamcoat with Donny Osmond (Chicago Theatre), Evita, Mary Poppins (Theatre Calgary/Citadel). Film/TV: The Handmaid’s Tale (MGM). I dedicate my season to the memory of the great Keith Dinicol.
Faculty
Chris James
Chris James is a talented martial artist. He has trained in Muay Thai, Kali, Capoeira, Boxing, Judo, and is an instructor in Commando Krav Maga. Proficient in a number of edge weapons, short and long gun tactics & disarms, and unarmed combat, Chris has used his training in stunts, stage combat, and fight directing to choreograph action on stage and screen. Always looking to pay it forward, he also started an in-school stage combat workshop in 2019 for high school arts programs all across Ontario.
Always striving to create a unique aspect to each moment, he can reveal the truth behind any instance using any object or action.
Faculty
Darryn deSouza
As the Music Director for the Canadian vocal supergroup, The Tenors, Darryn has shared the stage and worked with many legends: Paul Anka, David Foster, Celine Dion, Michael Bolton, Harry Connick Jr., Kenny G, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, and Stevie Wonder, to name just a few. He also has spent time with and performed for many world & creative leaders, including Barack & Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
As an educator, Darryn has pioneered vocal and theatre programs around the province including the Milton Youth Theatre Productions, the Studio School of Dance, Brampton Theatre School, Yellow Door Theatre, and Centre Stage Conservatory, pushing creative programming and a teaching method for student toolkit and confidence building.
Besides being a gifted communicator, Darryn connects and builds strong rapport with young artists looking to grow and understand how to improve their craft through meaningful and responsible mentorship.
Faculty
George Absi
George has been a professional dancer and choreographer for over 15 years. He was born and raised in Ottawa, ON where he trained in Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap and Contemporary including A.D.A.P.T and R.A.D. He has danced for PSY, Deborah Cox, Kreesha Turner, Fefe Dobson, Aleesia and Classified, to name a few. George has appeared on Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas, Once Upon A Time, Handmaid’s Tale, Shitt’s Creek, Breakfast Television, Threads, and most recently appeared on PBS Kids, “Let’s Go Luna” as “Hakim” a principal role. Theatre credits include: Beauty and the Beast, Neptune; Mamma Mia! (Dance Captain/ Asst Choreographer) Aquarius/ WCT; Priscilla, Queen of the Dessert (Canadian Premiere – Jimmy ), Sleeping Beauty, The Panto, Newsies (Buttons), Kinky Boots (Canadian Premiere – Angel/ Dance Captain) Drayton Entertainment. George landed the role of assistant choreographer in the upcoming motion picture “Slumberland” starring Jason Mamoa and was assistant choreographer for the brand-new show “Ukulele U” on CBC focussing on children’s learning and diversity.
Faculty
Jodi McFadden
Jodi McFadden, originally from Kitchener, Ontario, has appeared on Broadway in Moulin Rouge!, The Band’s Visit and Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark. Drayton audiences will remember her as Velma Kelly in Chicago as well as their productions of Little Me, Oklahoma!, Evita and Anything Goes. She spent four seasons at The Stratford Festival and can be seen on screen in Schmigadoon, Bollywood/ Hollywood and the Oscar-winning film, Chicago. @jodimcfadden
Faculty
Jos Banks
Drayton Entertainment: Kinky Boots (2020). A true renaissance man … Jos N. Banks is a multi-award-winning Visual/Performing Arts Artist, Costume Designer, Stylist & Teaching Artist hailing from Chicago, IL. International tours: Lola in Kinky Boots (US/Canada/China/Singagpore), Hud in HAIR (North America/Canada), Harpo in The Color Purple. Regional: Ms. Blakk For President, Choir Boy (Steppenwolf), Yale Dramatic Association, The Muny, Drury Lane – Oak Brook, Paramount Theatre, The Second City, About Face Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre, and many more. Film/TV: Ocean in The Chi, Dr. Greg Martinson in Work in Progress (Showtime). Representation: Paonessa Talent Agency. www.FearlessJos.com // Follow Me: @JosNBanks
Faculty
Lee Siegel
Lee Siegel, currently playing Tom Collins in Rent (Stratford Festival) performed on Broadway in Paradise Square, and previously as Simon Zealots in the Des McAnuff/Stratford Shakespeare Festival production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Drayton audiences will remember Lee as Javert in Les Miserables, Mitch in Spelling Bee, John in Miss Saigon and Big Jule in Guys and Dolls. Other credits include Hawker in The WHO’s Tommy (Stratford Festival), Old Deuteronomy in Cats (Neptune Theatre), and Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Stage West Missisauga). Lee’s Debut Album: “Where’s The Orchestra” is available on iTunes, spotify, and CdBaby. com @Lee_Siegel
Faculty
Lisa Stevens
Drayton Entertainment: West Side Story, Grease, Sister Act, Monty Python’s Spamalot. Other Theatre: Broadway/West End: Dolly Parton presents 9 TO 5, the Musical!. O?-West End: Anyone Can Whistle. O?-Broadway: Bingo! The Musical, Executive Decision. Regional: Escape To Margaritaville (Walnut St. Theatre), 9 TO 5 (US Tour, UK Tour, Australian, Korean companies), Disney’s High School Musical (US Tour, UK Tour, Australian, Japan, Spain companies), High School Musical 2 (US/UK Tours), Bombay Dreams (National Tour), Guys & Dolls, Grease (Axelrod Theatre), Broadway Bares “Parcheesi”, The Witches Of Eastwick (Ogunquit Theatre), The Little Prince, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Theater Calgary). Film: Dreaming Of A Jewish Christmas (Intl. Emmy Award Nom), Diary Of A Wimpy Kid 2, The Swinging Nutcracker. Follow me! @lisa_l_stevens
Faculty
Megan Alfano
Megan has been teaching for over 20 years. She holds her Canadian Dance Teacher’s Association Full Membership – Ontario Branch (Stage Division); she is an accredited Acrobatics Arts teacher; has completed the Progressing Ballet Technique certification and is a well-respected dance festival and competition adjudicator as a member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance. Megan spent over 12 years as the Choreographer and Assistant to the Artistic Director of the Professional Touring Performance Company, Saskatchewan Express as well as being the choreographer at The Grand Theatre (Legally Blonde, Ring of Fire, Addams Family, Colours in the Storm), Drayton Entertainment (Assistant Choreographer for Annie) as well as choreograph several productions for Original Kids Theatre Company. In the summer of 2016 she was excited to help create the inaugural season for programming at the Drayton Theatre’s Youth Musical Theatre Program and continues to be both an instructor and choreographer for their pre-professional company.
Faculty
Melissa Morris
Melissa Morris is an actor, singer, musician, musical director, composer, playwright, sound designer and educator. She is a graduate of both the Music and Drama departments at Queen’s, and attended Australian National University. Melissa’s career has taken her across Canada and the Caribbean, where she has had the pleasure of working at Chemainus Theatre, Theatre Orangeville, Port Hope Festival, Thousand Islands Playhouse, Stirling Theatre, Upper Canada Playhouse, Orillia Opera House, Gravenhurst Opera House, Theatre 20, Theatre Collingwood, and Theatre Kingston. She was Resident Musical Director and Composer at St Lawrence Shakespeare Festival for 9 seasons, and has musical directed at different companies in Canada. Her one-woman musical, Sweetheart by Dean Burry, had a successful premiere in Kingston and online. Melissa composed music for the off-Broadway hit Evil Dead the Musical, which continues to run internationally. She is a proud faculty member at Queen’s University and runs her own private vocal studio.
Faculty
Natasha Strilchuk
Natasha Strilchuk was born in Malaysia, raised in King’s Lynn, England and Regina, SK and is now a Toronto-based artist. She is a graduate of Randolph College of the Performing Arts – Triple Threat program and is an accomplished, versatile artist and arts educator. Natasha most recently worked on the CBC kids television show, Ukulele U, as an Assistant Choreographer to Director/Choreographer David Connolly and prior to that, was the Assistant Director/Choreographer for a fully digital production of Going Under at St. Lawrence College’s Musical Theatre program in 2021. In 2020 Natasha was a participant for Neptune Theatre’s RBC Chrysalis Project, in the director’s unit and was mentored by AD Jeremy Webb in his production of Calendar Girls. Choreographer credits include: Hair, Little Shop of Horrors, Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr. (LOT). Selected Theatre Credits: The North American Premiere of Bend it like Beckham the Musical (Starvox Ent.), Chicago (Globe Theatre), Mamma Mia (Neptune Theatre), Guys & Dolls, Romeo & Juliet (Stratford Festival) Social: @natashakstrilchuk
Faculty
Ocean
O’Shani also known as Ocean was born to perform. She began her dance journey studying jazz, ballet and hip hop at Joanne Chapman’s School of Dance. As Ocean’s passion for dance -more specifically hip-hop continued to grow, she transitioned from having dance as a recreational hobby, to making it her full-time career. Ocean is an Elite member of the street dance crew, Footnotes, lead by Mariano and Andrew Pyro Chung. After 4 years of training under these two Toronto legends, she recently co-created an all female street dance crew of her own, House of Hunniez, that aims to encompass the evolution of street dance, freestyle and choreography in one. More recently Ocean’s training now includes Motus Dance Company an international program lead by Diana Matos based in L.A. Ocean has also completed her first world tour for Youtube sensation, Lilly Singh, and has earned the opportunity to work with established Choreographers, via music videos for Rynx and Ruth B., and live performances with pop star Meghan Trainor at Toronto’s iHeart Radio MMVA’s 2018. More recently Ocean has been featured in Netflix series ‘Grand Army’ and ‘Work It’, with more projects to be released in the coming fall.
Faculty
Paul Nolan
Originally from Rouleau, Saskatchewan, is currently playing Hugh Dorsey in the Broadway revival of Parade. Prior to that, he played Jim in the most nominated play in Broadway history, Slave Play. For his Broadway performances, he’s been recognized by the Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards. His Broadway debut was as Jesus in the revival of Jesus Christ Superstar, followed by Guy in the Tony Award-winning musical Once. Subsequent New York roles include Pasha/Strelnikov in Doctor Zhivago, Jervis in Daddy Long Legs, Jimmy Ray in Bright Star, Billy Flynn in Chicago, Tully in Escape to Margaritaville, Jim in Slave Play and Hugh Dorsey in Parade. Paul is a graduate of the Randolph College for Performing Arts who is an avid outdoorsman and huge hockey fan. @paulalexandernolan
Faculty
Trayvon Ward
Drayton Entertainment debut. Other Dance: London Fringe Festival “Say Nothing” Theatre, Live Dance Performance Kaaral Canada Hair Show, Ensemble in Grease (St Marys SS). Trayvon Ward is a student of the University of Guelph. Thank you to all my mentors, family and friends for all the love and support!
Faculty
Wes Barnes
Drayton Entertainment debut Kinky Boots. Other Theatre: Mean Girls (Princess of Wales Theatre, Broadway First National Tour), Jesus Christ Superstar (50th Anniversary Tour), The Tap Dance Kid, 42nd Street, In the Heights, Newsies, The Scottsboro Boys, Godspell, Sophisticated Ladies, Choir Boy. In addition to performing, Wesley is equally passionate about mentoring performing artists and curating talent; so much so, he has founded an organization called The MPACT Group, which will do just that! Jer 29:11. For more info, follow on Instagram: @Wesjbarnes @thempactgroup
Faculty
Will Parry
Will Parry (he/they) is a music theatre performer and proud member of the CAEA based in Toronto. Some of his performance credits include Toto in Wizard of Oz: The Panto (Drayton Entertainment), Here I Am: A Cabaret (Self-Produced), Illusionarium (Starvox Entertainment), Scuttle in The Little Mermaid, Robert Martin in The Drowsy Chaperone, Kevin in Going Under (SLC Stage). Will is a graduate of St. Lawrence College’s Music Theatre Performance program. They are passionate about bringing joy and leading with kindness in everything they do. Will is honoured to be a part of the faculty at the Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy. Follow along with Will’s shenanigans @willxparry, and check out www.will-parry.com
Faculty
William Li
William (BMus Honours Composition) is a music producer, director, arranger/composer, recording artist, and multi instrumentalist. He has collaborated with a diverse group of artists from a multitude of genres including Our Lady Peace, Anna Sofia, Christee Palace, and Dani Doucette. Will has performed in Canadian Music Week, TIFF, Indieweek, and Strandedfest and has been contracted by numerous employers including MDC Music, The Grand London, Tone Labs Music, and Original Kids Theatre Company.
Will’s work has been recognized by the York Secondary Presidents Council, Ontario Music Festival Association, and the Sears Ontario Drama Festival. In 2021, several of Will’s Tiktoks went viral and were used and shared by Bastille, MTV, Nascar, Fortnite, and many more. 2022 anticipates his debut album release with country duo Aldershot, along with performances and artist/brand development outside of Canada.
Instagram/Tiktok: @williamlimusic
Director of Education
David Connolly
David Connolly is the Associate Artistic Director of Drayton Entertainment and Head of the Youth Academy. He is a Director, Educator, and Disability and Inclusion Advocate who is deeply committed to changing the statistic of being the only amputee to have performed on Broadway. He has collaborated with artists including Katy Perry, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John, Sarah Jessica Parker, kd lang, Patti LaBelle, Sarah Brightman and many others.
As an Educator, David has been an Adjunct Professor and Advisor to the Musical Theatre Performance Programs at Sheridan College, Randolph College, Fanshawe College, St Lawrence College, VanderCook College and most recently, the Hopkins Centre for the Arts at Dartmouth College. While on the faculty at the famed Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Training Centre in New York, his students included Natalie Portman and Bryce Dallas Howard.
David holds an Honours Bachelor Degree in Musical Theatre Performance from Sheridan College, is a recipient of The Ontario Premier’s Award of Excellence, The Waterloo Region Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement, and an Ambassador for both The War Amps’ Child Amputee Program (CHAMP) and The Shriners Hospitals for Children.
For Drayton Entertainment, he helmed over thirty productions including the Canadian regional theatre premieres of Kinky Boots, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Mamma Mia! and Newsies. For the screen, David has directed and choreographed several series for CBC Kids including their newest live action series, “Ukulele U.”
Administrative Director
Randi Perriam
Randi Perriam started with Drayton Entertainment in 2018 at the Huron Country Playhouse. Randi values the power of youth education in the arts and has been involved in the arts in some capacity since she was young. She remembers coming home from her local theatre in Goderich to make a witch’s wand with highlighters and tinfoil. She was hooked! The skills learned are invaluable and brought much confidence during case competitions and sales pitches in Business school. As much as Randi loves to crunch numbers and analyze data, she still chose to take a performance arts class in University. Randi can’t wait to meet everyone and support you in any way she can!
Faculty
Barbara Assiginaak
Composer, musician and educator Barbara Assiginaak is Anishinaabekwe (Odawa, Ojibwe and Potawatomi; Mnidoo Mnissing, Giniw dodem) is rooted in the oral/aural traditions of singing, drumming and the pipigwan/bbigon (cedar flute) since early childhood, during which time she also began learning about plant medicines passed down through the women in her family. The child and grandchild of residential school survivors, Barbara is also the direct descendant of hereditary chiefs who fought in the Indian Wars and in the War of 1812 and who also signed major treaties in Ontario. Barbara is also classically trained in piano (ARCT diploma), with a Bachelor of Composition degree from the University of Toronto, followed by studies at the Glenn Gould School (Composition, Piano Performance, Accompaniment and Chamber Music), at the Musikhochschule in München, Germany (Meisterklassen Diplom in Komposition, Aufbaustudium) and Centre Acanthes (France). She is currently Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Composition at the Faculty of Music at Wilfrid Laurier University. She regularly performs her own songs and compositions with other musicians, and often as a soloist with leading orchestras and conductors.
Faculty
Blythe Wilson
Drayton Entertainment: Mamma Mia!, All Shook Up. Other Theatre: Mary Poppins (Broadway/US Tour), Sound of Music, Mamma Mia, Man of La Mancha (Mirvish), Billy Elliot, Guys and Dolls, Music Man, Oliver, Oklahoma (Stratford Festival), Home for the Holidays, A Christmas Carol (Grand Theatre), The Three Musketeers (Chicago Shakespeare), 25th Annual … Spelling Bee (Connecticut Rep), Mystery of Edwin Drood, She Loves Me, Happy End (Shaw Festival), The Last Five Years (Canadian Stage), Joseph … Dreamcoat with Donny Osmond (Chicago Theatre), Evita, Mary Poppins (Theatre Calgary/Citadel). Film/TV: The Handmaid’s Tale (MGM). I dedicate my season to the memory of the great Keith Dinicol.
Faculty
Chris James
Chris James is a talented martial artist. He has trained in Muay Thai, Kali, Capoeira, Boxing, Judo, and is an instructor in Commando Krav Maga. Proficient in a number of edge weapons, short and long gun tactics & disarms, and unarmed combat, Chris has used his training in stunts, stage combat, and fight directing to choreograph action on stage and screen. Always looking to pay it forward, he also started an in-school stage combat workshop in 2019 for high school arts programs all across Ontario.
Always striving to create a unique aspect to each moment, he can reveal the truth behind any instance using any object or action.
Faculty
Christine Watson
Christine Watson is a performer, choreographer and dance educator from Kitchener Waterloo. Christine is extremely passionate about teaching and enjoys sharing her love of the arts, while being a mentor and inspiration to today’s youth. Select credits, Sleeping Beauty: The Panto, Grease, West Side Story, Rock of Ages, Joseph…, Mamma Mia, All Shook Up, Footloose, Spamalot, The Wizard of Oz, 9 To 5: The Musical (Drayton Entertainment); Rock of Ages (Fallsview); Spamalot (Theatre Aquarius); Dance Legends (The Grand); A Chorus Line (Rose Theatre). Choreography credits include, Assistant Choreographer for Kinky Boots, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Jack and the Beanstalk (Drayton Entertainment); Bye Bye Birdie, The Full Monty, The Sound of Music, RENT (KWMP). Christine is also the senior choreographer for the renowned youth pop choir, KW Glee.
Summer Camp Music Director
Darryn deSouza
As the Music Director for the Canadian vocal supergroup, The Tenors, Darryn has shared the stage and worked with many legends: Paul Anka, David Foster, Celine Dion, Michael Bolton, Harry Connick Jr., Kenny G, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, and Stevie Wonder, to name just a few. He also has spent time with and performed for many world & creative leaders, including Barack & Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
As an educator, Darryn has pioneered vocal and theatre programs around the province including the Milton Youth Theatre Productions, the Studio School of Dance, Brampton Theatre School, Yellow Door Theatre, and Centre Stage Conservatory, pushing creative programming and a teaching method for student toolkit and confidence building.
Besides being a gifted communicator, Darryn connects and builds strong rapport with young artists looking to grow and understand how to improve their craft through meaningful and responsible mentorship.
Faculty
George Absi
George has been a professional dancer and choreographer for over 15 years. He was born and raised in Ottawa, ON where he trained in Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap and Contemporary including A.D.A.P.T and R.A.D. He has danced for PSY, Deborah Cox, Kreesha Turner, Fefe Dobson, Aleesia and Classified, to name a few. George has appeared on Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas, Once Upon A Time, Handmaid’s Tale, Shitt’s Creek, Breakfast Television, Threads, and most recently appeared on PBS Kids, “Let’s Go Luna” as “Hakim” a principal role. Theatre credits include: Beauty and the Beast, Neptune; Mamma Mia! (Dance Captain/ Asst Choreographer) Aquarius/ WCT; Priscilla, Queen of the Dessert (Canadian Premiere – Jimmy ), Sleeping Beauty, The Panto, Newsies (Buttons), Kinky Boots (Canadian Premiere – Angel/ Dance Captain) Drayton Entertainment. George landed the role of assistant choreographer in the upcoming motion picture “Slumberland” starring Jason Mamoa and was assistant choreographer for the brand-new show “Ukulele U” on CBC focussing on children’s learning and diversity.
Faculty
Jackie Mustakas
Jackie began dancing at the age of three and started performing in musical theatre at the age of ten. She is an honours graduate of the Music Theatre Performance program at Sheridan College, and has been working professionally in the theatre business for 28 years. In 1998 she became a regular performer with Drayton Entertainment, and has continued to perform and choreograph for them until present. Selected theatre credits with Drayton are: Tanya in Mamma Mia, Queen Diabolica in Snow White: The Panto, Mrs. Banks in Mary Poppins, Miss Hannigan in Annie, The Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz, Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, Polly Baker in Crazy For You, Shelby in Steel Magnolias, Lizzie in The Rainmaker, and Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street, just to name a few. Jackie has also been a dance instructor for several dance studios, as well as a guest drama teacher in schools across Ontario. She continues to perform and teach, and share her passion for the Arts.
Faculty
Jacob James
Jacob James is an actor and drama professor who has spent seven seasons as a leading actor with The Stratford Festival and over fifteen years as a teaching artist for the company. He is a graduate of The National Theatre School, Birmingham Conservatory (Stratford Festival), Second City Conservatory, and York University’s Teaching Artist Program. Jacob has worked with theatre companies and arts education institutions across Canada and the US for over 25 years. Film/TV/Voice credits: Fireman Sam (Calon TV UK), Martian Chronicles (BBC), Mayday (A&E), TURN (AMC), The Stranger Experiment (Crave) Upcoming: Jacob will be performing the one person play Billy Bishop Goes to War with Drayton Entertainment in the spring. Instagram: @jacoboneilljames
Faculty
Megan Alfano
Megan has been teaching for over 20 years. She holds her Canadian Dance Teacher’s Association Full Membership – Ontario Branch (Stage Division); she is an accredited Acrobatics Arts teacher; has completed the Progressing Ballet Technique certification and is a well-respected dance festival and competition adjudicator as a member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance. Megan spent over 12 years as the Choreographer and Assistant to the Artistic Director of the Professional Touring Performance Company, Saskatchewan Express as well as being the choreographer at The Grand Theatre (Legally Blonde, Ring of Fire, Addams Family, Colours in the Storm), Drayton Entertainment (Assistant Choreographer for Annie) as well as choreograph several productions for Original Kids Theatre Company. In the summer of 2016 she was excited to help create the inaugural season for programming at the Drayton Theatre’s Youth Musical Theatre Program and continues to be both an instructor and choreographer for their pre-professional company.
Faculty
Melissa Morris
Melissa Morris is an actor, singer, musician, musical director, composer, playwright, sound designer and educator. She is a graduate of both the Music and Drama departments at Queen’s, and attended Australian National University. Melissa’s career has taken her across Canada and the Caribbean, where she has had the pleasure of working at Chemainus Theatre, Theatre Orangeville, Port Hope Festival, Thousand Islands Playhouse, Stirling Theatre, Upper Canada Playhouse, Orillia Opera House, Gravenhurst Opera House, Theatre 20, Theatre Collingwood, and Theatre Kingston. She was Resident Musical Director and Composer at St Lawrence Shakespeare Festival for 9 seasons, and has musical directed at different companies in Canada. Her one-woman musical, Sweetheart by Dean Burry, had a successful premiere in Kingston and online. Melissa composed music for the off-Broadway hit Evil Dead the Musical, which continues to run internationally. She is a proud faculty member at Queen’s University and runs her own private vocal studio.
Faculty
Natasha Strilchuk
Natasha Strilchuk was born in Malaysia, raised in King’s Lynn, England and Regina, SK and is now a Toronto-based artist. She is a graduate of Randolph College of the Performing Arts – Triple Threat program and is an accomplished, versatile artist and arts educator. Natasha most recently worked on the CBC kids television show, Ukulele U, as an Assistant Choreographer to Director/Choreographer David Connolly and prior to that, was the Assistant Director/Choreographer for a fully digital production of Going Under at St. Lawrence College’s Musical Theatre program in 2021. In 2020 Natasha was a participant for Neptune Theatre’s RBC Chrysalis Project, in the director’s unit and was mentored by AD Jeremy Webb in his production of Calendar Girls. Choreographer credits include: Hair, Little Shop of Horrors, Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr. (LOT). Selected Theatre Credits: The North American Premiere of Bend it like Beckham the Musical (Starvox Ent.), Chicago (Globe Theatre), Mamma Mia (Neptune Theatre), Guys & Dolls, Romeo & Juliet (Stratford Festival) Social: @natashakstrilchuk
Faculty
Ocean
O’Shani also known as Ocean was born to perform. She began her dance journey studying jazz, ballet and hip hop at Joanne Chapman’s School of Dance. As Ocean’s passion for dance -more specifically hip-hop continued to grow, she transitioned from having dance as a recreational hobby, to making it her full-time career. Ocean is an Elite member of the street dance crew, Footnotes, lead by Mariano and Andrew Pyro Chung. After 4 years of training under these two Toronto legends, she recently co-created an all female street dance crew of her own, House of Hunniez, that aims to encompass the evolution of street dance, freestyle and choreography in one. More recently Ocean’s training now includes Motus Dance Company an international program lead by Diana Matos based in L.A. Ocean has also completed her first world tour for Youtube sensation, Lilly Singh, and has earned the opportunity to work with established Choreographers, via music videos for Rynx and Ruth B., and live performances with pop star Meghan Trainor at Toronto’s iHeart Radio MMVA’s 2018. More recently Ocean has been featured in Netflix series ‘Grand Army’ and ‘Work It’, with more projects to be released in the coming fall.
Faculty
Richard Moore
Richard Moore has been performing and teaching music for approximately forty years. As both drummer and percussionist, he has performed in numerous musical theatre productions for Drayton Entertainment, Mirvish Productions, Stratford Music Festival, Theatre Aquarius, and Sheridan College. He also performs regularly with symphony orchestras, as well as various jazz and popular music ensembles. Richard currently teaches at York University and the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.
Faculty
Stephanie Pitsiladis
Stephanie made her professional debut in the Mirvish production of Hairspray in 2004 where she was the first Canadian to perform the role of Tracy Turnblad. She has revisited the role across the country multiple times with the Charlottetown Festival, Drayton Entertainment, Rainbow Stage, and Mayfield Theatres.
Stephanie also founded and ran a successful semi-professional theatre program from 2007 – 2011 and coached the Laval Liberty Improv team which competed in the Canadian Improv Games.
Other credits include: Grease, Little Shop of Horrors, Man of La Mancha, Steel Magnolias, Snow White: The Panto, Aladdin: The Panto, The Gefilte Fish Chronicles, The Importance of Being Earnest, History of Rock and Roll: Stars and Stripes, Class of ’63: A Rockin’ Reunion, My Fair Lady, The Christmas Express and Kinky Boots.
Faculty
Trayvon Ward
Drayton Entertainment debut. Other Dance: London Fringe Festival “Say Nothing” Theatre, Live Dance Performance Kaaral Canada Hair Show, Ensemble in Grease (St Marys SS). Trayvon Ward is a student of the University of Guelph. Thank you to all my mentors, family and friends for all the love and support!
Frozen Jr. Music Director
William Li
William (BMus Honours Composition) is a music producer, director, arranger/composer, recording artist, and multi instrumentalist. He has collaborated with a diverse group of artists from a multitude of genres including Our Lady Peace, Anna Sofia, Christee Palace, and Dani Doucette. Will has performed in Canadian Music Week, TIFF, Indieweek, and Strandedfest and has been contracted by numerous employers including MDC Music, The Grand London, Tone Labs Music, and Original Kids Theatre Company.
Will’s work has been recognized by the York Secondary Presidents Council, Ontario Music Festival Association, and the Sears Ontario Drama Festival. In 2021, several of Will’s Tiktoks went viral and were used and shared by Bastille, MTV, Nascar, Fortnite, and many more. 2022 anticipates his debut album release with country duo Aldershot, along with performances and artist/brand development outside of Canada.
Instagram/Tiktok: @williamlimusic
